on Perth. Out of the state's flocks, 30 million
strong, only the best of some 17 breeds make
it to the week-long Royal Show at the Clare
mont fairgrounds.
With a crowd of farmers at the sheep pa
vilion I watched veteran judge Stan Dor
man pinch flanks, spread wool, then award
the blue ribbon to a prize Corriedale.
"The fleece of the winner isn't quite as
heavy as on the runner-up," Mr. Dorman
explained. "But the Corriedale is a dual
purpose animal, and this one has the greater
'stretch.' That means more meat. Given
the growing Middle East market for live
wethers today, meat is becoming the more
important criterion."
Half the sheep exported from Australia
today leave from Perth's nearby port, Fre
mantle, a harbor for shrimpers and lobster
men as well as Western Australia's busiest